Council: Jack Swanston - Murray Watson - Researching Victorian Hawick

Thu, Nov 2nd 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Council meets first at 5.45. Then weekly meeting with guest speaker.


President Scott Elliot welcomed a big turnout of members to last week's Rotary Club meeting and was sad to report the passing of Past President John Robson at the age of 93 years.  A eulogy was given by his friend and fellow member Jack Swanston, Paul Harris Fellow, covering John's life history and his involvement in Rotary including the office of President in 1990.
The speaker, introduced by Jack Swanston, was Murray Watson, born a Jethart Callant, brought up in the Caribbean, educated in England which resulted in his pronounced English accent, had several abodes, currently living locally, has written and published several books on the immigration of the English as well as being a University Lecturer here and abroad on the subject and it was on this that he based his talk in a professional yet interesting and understandable style.  He looked at the history of the subject and in 1861 the  census showed there was 30,000 English in Scotland but in the last census this had increased to 459,000,  English settlers during the expansion of the Industrial Revolution resulted in a big influx of Englishmen to pockets in Scotland, namely Govan, Motherwell and Hawick.  As a result Hawick has one of the oldest cricket clubs and brass bands in the country as they introduced them to the town.  His recent research shows that after the Scots and English the third nation is German but there is an increase in English emigration due to the current Brexit negotiations especially to Canada.  An interesting talk, professionally delivered, which generated several questions after which President Scott gave the vote of thanks.  Kerr Scott reported that the purple crocus bulbs had been planted in Weensland Road at Heronhill to mark the Rotary Project of End Polio Now.

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2019-20 President Linden Warburton and Treasurer Scott Elliot (centre) meet with Polysport representatives Libby Kennedy (right) and Greg Cuthbert (left)

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